P-Noy cites less crime in Cordillera due to police work; Kalinga mafia out

TRINIDAD, Benguet – President Aquino has noted less violence in the Cordillera particularly in Abra and Kalinga as a result of police operations.

On March 28, during a meeting of Cabinet members and Commission on Election officials to tackle the possibility of holding a registration of voters in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, the President lauded the accomplishment of the regional Cordillera police against criminal groups in Kalinga and the decrease of violent incidents in the province of Abra.

Mr. Aquino said one private army in Kalinga was neutralized recently, while the incidence of violence in Abra had gone down.

“They’ve arrested quite a number of people identified with this private armed group [in Kalinga], filed the necessary charges and confiscated firearms,” the President said.

“In Abra, we are told that there is a marked diminution of violence normally being experience there.”

On Feb. 29 regional police director Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong took the lead in the conduct of Judicial Process Approach (JPA) in Kalinga, in relation to OPLAN Vanguard.

Armed with 10 search warrants, police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and 501st Brigade of the Philippine Army arrested in Tabuk City, Kalinga ,Bulanao Barangay Captain VirgilioGunawa and criminal groups associated with him.

Ten houses in Tabuk City were searched by virtue of 10 search warrants for violation of Presdientail Decree 1866 as amended by R.A. 8294 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunitions) and another search warrant for possible violation of Section 11 (Possessions of Dangerous Drugs).

All search warrants were issued by Marino M. Dela Cruz, executive judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 22, National Capital Judicial Region.

The simultaneous service of the said search warrants led to the arrest of six persons for Violation of P.D. 1866 as amended by R.A. 8294 namely: Brixton Gunnawa y Pimentel, RexorGunnawa y Pimentel, BreilAlyaon y Ingga, Brix Dacnas y Bersalona, Melvin Ambasing y Cosidon, and Rhett Villamor y Gunnawa, who has a pending warrant of arrest for frustrated murder and confiscation of 12 assorted firearms, seven rifle grenades, one hand grenade, assorted ammunitions, seven different brands and makes of motorcycles and accessories, one Blackstone generator and 123 grams of shabu and 200 grams of marijuana.

On April 2, a report made by the Regional Intelligence Division stated that Virgilio B Gunnawa, Dexter P Gunnawa, Brixton P Gunnawa and Rexor P Gunnawa were outon bail while Rhett V Gunnawa was committed to the Tabuk jail

Breil I Alyaon, Brix B Dacnas and Melvin C Ambasing were released by the prosecutor due to insufficiency of evidence.

The LuboBudong Council in Kalinga recently distanced themselves from the Gunnawas.

Consequently, the latter cannot ask for the LBC to take jurisdiction of the Gunnawa cases pending in court.

Meanwhile, in Abra there was a tremendous drop of violent incidences, a police report said.

The aggressive fight against criminality of the community with the support of the Abra law enforcement agencies led to a more peaceful Abra.

The Peace Conveners Group in Abra, composed of nongovernment organizations, local government units, Abra PNP and other concerned individuals who are non-partisans are taking the lead to continuously motivate the community of Abra to fight crime in any way they can, the report said.